full

1 of 5

adjective

ˈfu̇l How to pronounce full (audio)
 also  ˈfəl
1
: containing as much or as many as is possible or normal
a full hamper
often used with of
a bin full of corn
2
a
: complete especially in detail, number, or duration
a full report
gone a full hour
my full share
b
: lacking restraint, check, or qualification
full retreat
full support
c
: having all distinguishing characteristics : enjoying all authorized rights and privileges
full member
full professor
d
: not lacking in any essential : perfect
in full control of your senses
e(1)
: completely occupied by runners
came to bat with the bases full
(2)
: having three balls and two strikes
a full count
3
a
: being at the highest or greatest degree : maximum
full speed
full strength
b
: being at the height of development
full bloom
c
: being a full moon : completely illuminated
the moon is full tonight
4
: rounded in outline
a full figure
5
a
: possessing or containing a great number or amount
used with of
a room full of pictures
full of hope
b
: having an abundance of material especially in the form of gathered, pleated, or flared parts
a full skirt
c
used as an intensive to emphasize the large size of an amount
won by a full four strokes
was a full 3 months late with her payment
d
: rich in experience
a full life
6
a
: satisfied especially with food or drink
He was full after eating the large supper.
b
: large enough to satisfy
a full meal
7
archaic : completely weary
8
: having both parents in common
full sisters
9
: having volume or depth of sound
full tones
10
: completely occupied especially with a thought or plan
full of his own concerns
11
: possessing a rich or pronounced quality
a food of full flavor

full

2 of 5

adverb

1
a
: very, extremely
knew full well they had lied to me
b
: entirely
swung full aroundMorley Callaghan
2
: straight, squarely
got hit full in the face

full

3 of 5

noun

1
: the highest or fullest state or degree
the full of the moon
2
: the utmost extent
enjoy to the full

full

4 of 5

verb (1)

fulled; fulling; fulls

intransitive verb

of the moon : to become full

transitive verb

: to make full in sewing

full

5 of 5

verb (2)

fulled; fulling; fulls

transitive verb

: to shrink and thicken (woolen cloth) by moistening, heating, and pressing
Phrases
full of it
: not to be believed
in full
1
: to the requisite or complete amount
paid in full
2
: to the fullest extent : completely
read the book in full
Choose the Right Synonym for full

full, complete, plenary, replete mean containing all that is wanted or needed or possible.

full implies the presence or inclusion of everything that is wanted or required by something or that can be held, contained, or attained by it.

a full schedule

complete applies when all that is needed is present.

a complete picture of the situation

plenary adds to complete the implication of fullness without qualification.

given plenary power

replete implies being filled to the brim or to satiety.

replete with delightful details

Examples of full in a Sentence

Adjective The plane was carrying a full load of passengers. The theater was full to capacity. We bought a full set of dishes. They waited for three full months. He has a full array of stereo equipment. The soldiers were wearing full combat gear. This will be his first full season with the team. His theories have not yet found full acceptance. I hope that you'll give us your fullest cooperation. Please give me your full attention. Adverb The cup was filled full to the brim. The ball hit him full in the chest. He kissed her full on the lips. Noun the account is now paid in full
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
Lawrence Gostin, director of the O’Neill Institute for National and Global Health Law at Georgetown University, said if Republicans do take full control of Congress, those changes could be significant. Berkeley Lovelace Jr., NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024 The parking lot was full, and so were the side streets. Madison Lammert, Journal Sentinel, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
All sizes will be available, including twins from $99, fulls ($149), queens ($199) and kings ($299). Don Maines, Houston Chronicle, 27 Feb. 2020 When in their feeding grounds, a gray whale typically eats about 1.3 tons of food — mouth-fulls of crustaceans, worms, shrimp and small, schooling fish — per day, according to researchers. Anchorage Daily News, 25 Jan. 2020 See all Example Sentences for full 

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English ful, full, fol, going back to Old English full, going back to Germanic *fulla- (whence also Old Frisian ful, fol "full," Old Saxon full, Middle Dutch vol, Old High German fol, Old Icelandic fullr, Gothic fulls), going back to Indo-European *pl̥h1nó-, verbal adjective from the base *pleh1- "become full," whence also Old Irish lán "full," Welsh llawn (with length secondary if the proposed law shortening pretonic vowels in Celtic is valid), Latin plēnus (with -ē- from -plēre "to fill"), Old Church Slavic plĭnŭ, Russian pólnyj, Bosnian-Croatian-Serbian pȕn, Lithuanian pìlnas, Sanskrit pūrṇáḥ, Avestan pərəna-; *pleh1- appears with varying ablaut and suffixation in Latin plēre "to fill" (from *plēi̯e-), verbal adjective plētus, Greek pímplēmi "(I) fill," plêto "(it) has become full," Armenian lnowm "(I) fill," Sanskrit pr̥ṇā́ti "(s/he) fills"

Note: For another presumed development of *pleh1- see poly-. Regarding the currency of the verb plēre in Latin see note at complete entry 1.

Adverb

Middle English ful, full "completely, entirely, very, quite," going back to Old English, derivative of full full entry 1

Noun

Middle English fulle "the whole amount, satisfactory amount," going back to Old English fulla, derivative of full full entry 1

Verb (1)

derivative of full entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English fullen "to full (cloth), trample down, oppress," borrowed from Anglo-French fuller, foler, fouler "to full (cloth), press (grapes), trample under foot, oppress," going back to Late Latin fullāre "to full (cloth)," verb derivative from the base of Latin fullōn-, fullō "fuller (of cloth), launderer," of obscure origin

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adverb

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Verb (1)

1785, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of full was before the 12th century

Dictionary Entries Near full

Cite this Entry

“Full.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/full. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

full

1 of 3 adjective
1
: containing as much or as many as possible or normal
a bottle full of milk
a full hamper
2
a
: complete in number, amount, or duration
a full set of dishes
for a full hour
b
: not missing any essentials : perfect
in full control of the car
c
: being at the highest or greatest degree
in full bloom
at full power
full strength
d
: fully lighted
the moon is full
e
: completely occupied by runners
come to bat with the bases full
f
: having three balls and two strikes
a full count
3
a
: plump and rounded in outline
a full face
b
: having much material
a full skirt
4
: possessing or containing a great number or amount
a room full of pictures
full of hope
5
: satisfied especially with food or drink
6
: having the same parents
full sisters
7
: completely taken up especially with a thought or plan
full of one's own concerns
full of oneself
8
: having a rich quality
a full voice
fullness noun

full

2 of 3 adverb
1
a
: very entry 2 sense 1, extremely
knew full well who they were
b
: all the way : entirely
filled full
2
: smack entry 5, squarely
was hit full in the face

full

3 of 3 noun
: the highest state, extent, or degree

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